HUMOR
How I’m Coping With Views Plummeting From 21 to 18 Seemingly Overnight
The algorithm has been dogging me — you too?
Oh man, sometimes it’s hard to face the facts. One day you’re a top writer with tons of views, and the next? Well, you’re a nobody.
Believe me, I don’t wave my huge view count out there to brag. Honestly though, it did take me years to get there, and I’m damn proud of it. But in this instance, I’m just telling you to make a point which is, it’s devastating to see that kind of a drop and it did in fact happen overnight!
I’ve been writing on Medium since 2016 — you know, the hot time to get started as it was still pretty new. I cranked out two articles and burned myself out so I had to take a short break, starting up again in 2018.
I had a lot to make up for by taking that break, although my two articles did establish me here on Medium. I jumped back in and published sporadically which I learned was the best strategy to increase views and reads. Boy, that advice was right on track!
I burnt myself out again with the craziness of sporadic publishing. Just writing when the urge hits you — it’s tough to do. You don’t know when it’s going to happen so there’s a lot of waiting around. Frankly, it’s exhausting. So I counted on those articles to carry me and my rising view count while I took another year off. Time for rest and recovery, you know?
Then back again in late 2019. Perfect timing because I beat all those new Covid writers to the punch. I had three solid months of sporadic writing before all the newbies came in. It’s like when you are a regular gym member and you chuckle at the people who flood through the door on January 3rd. Sorry, you’re not gonna make it. You’re not committed like I am. I’ll give you two weeks.
While all those new writers were cranking out story after story, I was just coasting on my backlog. The day I reached 21 views I was literally taken aback. All my hard work, waiting around, and resting have really paid off! Look. at those numbers — wow. I think I may have busted a tear.
And then to wake up and see that my views had plummeted to 18–18 for God’s sake! From the twenties to the teens, really? Honestly, I didn’t know how I was going to cope.
I immediately took to bed, sliding headfirst under the covers. I couldn’t face it. I just couldn’t face it. I felt like my life was over. The prestige that my high view count had brought me — I was nothing without it. I remained sequestered under the blankets for days. I didn’t even have the energy to wait around for writing inspiration. Everything just went dark.
But finally it hit me — what kind of an example am I setting? I’m a top writer, a thought leader. Am I just going to quit because some change in the mysterious algorithm caused my views to plummet? My fans haven’t left me — they just can’t find me! There’s no need for me to run off to Newsbreak.
And with that it was like I was born anew! Of course, a rest was needed after all the days of being sequestered. But I am back at it because I need to let all you writers know, you are not alone.
If you are seeing the dramatic drop in stats like I have, let me tell you there have been plenty of changes at Medium that caused my stats to drop in the past. Coincidentally they all occurred during my after burnout rest periods, and occasionally while waiting around. It’s the crazy algorithm — I’m telling you!
Rest assured, there will be ups and there will be downs when you are navigating the wild west of Medium. But if you have not experienced a high view count as I have yet, don’t despair. Keep plugging away, keep waiting for your muse to strike, and make sure you don’t burn yourself out! If need be, take a little time off — a year should be sufficient.
And when you do see that sweet, sweet two-digit number, it will all be worth it. Keep going — you owe it to yourself, and to your future fans!
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